Raleigh, North Carolina — Events
Artsplosure
Artsplosure is Raleigh’s acclaimed annual spring jazz and art festival. Each year, thousands of people gather in lovely Moore Square downtown to enjoy more than 250 visual and performing artists, street performers, musicians and children’s activities. Booths display blown glass, hand-crafted jewelry and woodwork, while vendors tempt visitors with every type of food imaginable, from beer to falafel to cotton candy.
International Festival of Raleigh
This entertaining and informative festival has become a major local highlight, showcasing the region’s cultural and artistic talents with culinary specialties, cultural exhibits and ethnic crafts on offer. The festival hosts both international and traditional dance performances, as well as naturalization ceremonies for new American citizens.
North Carolina State Fair
The North Carolina State Fair is a massive celebration of Southern culture and family fun. The fair has remained true to its agricultural roots, with exhibitions that promote the preservation of farmland and natural resources, allow fairgoers to try their hand at picking peanuts or milking cows, and enable visitors to view and learn more about the cattle, sheep, pigs and other animals raised on North Carolina farms. But the fair has also evolved to become a spectacular festival with amusement park rides and games, a demolition derby, top musical performers and much more.
